Next Cafe: “Being in the Present Moment” – Mindfulness and Political Action

In this Cafe, Dr Steven Stanley (SOCSI, Cardiff University) will introduce the concept of mindfulness (commonly understood as ‘being in the present moment’), with the aid of classic and contemporary definitions of mindfulness from Buddhism, psychology and professional practice, in order to explore a range of questions.

What are the similarities and differences between these concepts? How mindful are we in our everyday lives? Should we become more, or less, mindful? Should there be an ethical foundation to mindfulness? While mindfulness practice may make us feel better, can it help us change the world? How does it relate to contemporary consumer capitalism? Or inform social and political action?